for your safety please read..this isn't a joke

[fairy_tale_girl64]

Google has implemented a new feature wherein you can type someone's telephone number into the search bar and hit enter and then you will be given a map to their house. Everyone should be aware of this! Note that you can have your phone number removed or blocked. Before forwarding this, I tested it by typing my telephone number in google.com. My phone number came up, and when I clicked on the MapQuest link, it actually mapped out where I live. Quite scary. Please look up your own number. Read below for details. Think about it--if a child, ANYONE gives out his/her phone number, someone can actually now look it up to find out where he/she lives. The safety issues are obvious, and alarming. In order to test whether your phone number is mapped, go to: www.google.com/ Type your phone number in the search bar (i.e. 555-555-1212) and hit enter. If you want to BLOCK Google from divulging your private information, simply click on the telephone icon next to your phone number. Removal takes 48-hours. If you are unlisted in the phone book, you might not be in there, but it is a good idea just to check. If your number does come up if you hit map, it will show you a direct map to your house... Please forward on to friends and family .

[cutie_kristin]

I live in BC canada and I searched my phone number and even though we are listed in our local phone book we do not come up on the website.
Also if you are from Canada, there is a website, www.canada411.com that is the same thing, only it doesn't show a map to your house, but there are tons of map sites that you can use, like from msn.com that shows the map to your house.
That thing on google doesn't work 100% of the time.
Plus I am sure if people wanted to find someone bad enough they would.

[tiffy426]

I can't find mine.

[fairy_tale_girl64]

mine popped right up..the thing that worried me is that what if my kids give out our phone number ...you know. and in the small town i live in, all you would have to do is ask someone where they could find me and it wouldn't be hard to locate me, but not sure i would want a stranger popping in on me and my house. they did say if you have an unlisted phone number it might not show up. i just think the internet sometimes gives out too much information and those things should be only done if you give permission or add your info to their site. i would rather them give out email info on me than my address. just too many bad people in the world today. i remember when we could leave our doors unlocked all day and ever worry about it. or we never locked our cars. but i also remember when i was a foster parent a man riding through the neighborhood and asking my foster child and my nieces and nephews if any of them would like to be on tv to come with them if they did. thank goodness they were smart enough to run.

[cherry1217]

thanks for the warning........but also keep in mind that this could happen without the internet. if you have a phone book or the operator could easily give a phone number and address and you can map it out that way. people should always be cautious no matter what. it's stupid not to in today's world. how i wish i lived in the 50's where things like what happen in today's world would never have been concieved. it's horrible and we need to always need to be gaurded, even with the little things like a phone number.

[fairy_tale_girl64]

you guys are right...i guess i panic too easy but i will say that i have my phone number under my maiden name. so anyone who wanted to find out my number that hasn't known me as a younger person they would never know how to find my number. since i have had children i have gotten so paranoid cause you can't keep them under your wing and protect them but for so long.

[Stargem83]

Omg Fairy you have me freaking out now!! I dunno if I should get a land line when I move or not!! I tried my moms old phone number to see if it would pull up her old address....and it did!!! no one else has had that number since it was disconnected and it was giving the real address of that phone number oh well......if I have any enemies and they truely hate me they would've known where to find me before this!!

[cherry1217]

Stargem83 said:

Omg Fairy you have me freaking out now!! I dunno if I should get a land line when I move or not!! I tried my moms old phone number to see if it would pull up her old address....and it did!!! no one else has had that number since it was disconnected and it was giving the real address of that phone number oh well......if I have any enemies and they truely hate me they would've known where to find me before this!!

just have the number unlisted. that's what my mom does, plus it helps keep telemarketers from calling all hours of the day.

[fairy_tale_girl64]

i know i know i freak out easy too that is why i posted that. when i read the email i expected it to be one of those jokes and when my street address showed up with this big yellow star on where i lived i about had a heartattack! when i was a sub in the schools i had a few threats of burning down my house lol ;D...by jr high students and knowing they could have found my house that easy really does make me ill. but i just looked at the kids (bad news kids that didn't like to be told they had rules even though the teacher was out) and told them you come and burn my house down anyday you want...but you better make sure my children get out or are not home! that is a tough job but when they know you have actually taught school, they don't give you as much junk. anyway that is off the subject. its scary! if you get a phone list name in your middle name or something like my real name is Elisa but most everyone knows me as Lisa so only my closest friends would ever know that the person name Elisa was really me and i use my maiden name in the listing.

[cherry1217]

oh dont get me wrong, i think it's awesome you posted this to make people aware of it! and i admire you for being a teacher and putting up with so much crap from students. i was never that way, but saw it alot. never understood how kids got that way.

[BunnyRabt]

It's too bad that everyone has to be guarded these days, but it really is the only intelligent way to live. I'm not talking about being completely paranoid about EVERYTHING, but like the previous posts state, it doesn't hurt to be cautious and protect your privacy as much as you can.

Even so, everyone should realize that it isn't just Google that gives out info. There are countless ways to look up personal info on the web, and it is impossible to prevent personal info from being ANYWHERE. So, all you can do is just live your life being reasonably cautious, watch what sites you enter info to, and have disaster plans in place with your family. It's a sad commentary on the world today that we have to be so cautious, but that's how it is. I grew up in the 60's and 70's, and we didn't even lock our houses much then! I lock mine even in the daytime when I am here...and that's with two dogs to protect me!

[fairy_tale_girl64]

exactly i was brought up during those times too and in a small town you thought things were safe and they were unless you were involved with the wrong people and they didn't mess with anyone unless you messed with them. i was really young in the 60s but even throughout the early 80's i knew i could run into a store and leave my car running and it be there when i returned lol. so much change in a realitively short amount of time. and i have taught school but not for long for only a year, then i switched to substituting, then last year i decided i would try teaching again but took an assistance job so i could still have more time with my kids (when i taught especially it being my first year and having to relearn the subjects and make lesson plans, i had to work day and night). so for the most part i have stayed at home with the kids.